By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Ex- Nigerian minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili, has slammed Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, over his alleged misconduct towards female lawmakers.
In a statement issued on Monday, Ezekwesili expressed concerns over Akpabio’s behaviour, citing instances where he allegedly humiliated female senators, including Natasha Akpoti and Ireti Kingibe.
Recall on Saturday that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan spoke out about the harassment and exclusion she has faced in the Senate, citing a pattern of behaviour that began after a nightclub incident last year.
In an interview with the Brekete Family, where Akpoti-Uduaghan had revealed that she had been denied privileges, pulled out of international activities, and even had her name struck out from a United Nations event she was nominated for.
The senator claimed that she had been self-funding her trips to international events, which she believed are important for her constituents, Nigerian women, and the country as a whole.
She had also alleged that her seat in the Senate was changed to a location where she would be less visible, suggesting that this was an attempt to silence her or eliminate her from being seen.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegations came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio faced criticism for his sexist remarks against her, with over 300 women groups demanding an unreserved apology.
The incident highlights concerns about gender discrimination and verbal harassment in Nigeria’s political institutions.
Reacting in her statement, Ezekwesili encouraged women in public leadership to stand strong and continue to represent their constituents, emphasising that representation matters.
The former presidential candidate, also warned Akpabio that he would face consequences if he continued to harass women in public leadership.
The statement she shared on her X handle partly read: “I tweeted last year that if not for the rottenness of our Judiciary, Nigerians would not have an @Senator_Akpabio presiding over the upper house of our @nassnigeria – the Nigerian Senate @NGRSenate.
“That statement has been given proof by Mr Akpabio himself in the nearly 2 years of his “leadership” of the Senate.
“One issue stands out. Mr Akpabio implicitly thinks that his even more accomplished female colleagues must be humiliated in order for his ego to be assuaged.”
Ezekwesili added, “Is it not a shame that one day it is @NatashaAkpoti , another day @IretiKingibe and yet another day @NatashaAkpoti that are at the receiving end of the appalling misconduct of the topmost officer of our Legislature?”
“And we wonder why Nigeria shamefully places at the lowest neighborhood of the ranking of countries on Women in public leadership , specifically Legislature at 4.4%.
“I encourage the women in public leadership to never ever lose their Voice. Continue to stand strong in your commitment to citizens and prove that representation matters.
“All aspects of data do in fact show that representation matters a lot.”
The former Vice President of World Bank (Africa Region), warned Senate President to be prepared to face what would come to him next time he harasses any woman well-elected unlike him.
“Next time Mr Akpabio harasses any woman well-elected unlike him and representing her constituency @ the National Assembly or any woman at all anywhere in this country, he must get ready. Enough said.”
Guardian